Rain-alarm.



C.. FIRMAN.

RAIN ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2l. IQIG.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

CHARLES FIRMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

RAIN-ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.. 28, 19T?.

Application led November 21, 1916. Serial No. 132,536.

To all whom z' may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Fini/LAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Rain-Alarms, of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sounding or otherwise giving an alarm when rain begins to fall. In sick-rooms, sleeping chambers, and various other places, irrespective of what means may be employed for ventilation, it is oftentimes necessary to open one or more windows to get a desired amount of fresh air. When for a period of time, no attention can be given to the open window or windows, as for example when a person is asleep, or when a patient is unattended and cannot leave a sick bed, and when the weather is doubtful, windows which might otherwise be left open are closed, or nearly closed, in order should it storm, to prevent the rain from coming in at the open window and destroying furniture and fittings, or doing other damage.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simply constructed apparatus to be attached to a window and to indicate audibly when the rain begins to fall. I am aware that devices for the same, or a similar purpose have heretofore been proposed. All these devices, however, so far as the same have come to my notice, consist of more or less complicated mechanisms requiring considerable care and being somewhat expensive to maintain, and moreover are consequently uncertain in their actions, whereas my improved rain indicator 0r alarm is one that requires practically no attention, is one in which the initial cost is the only expense, there being no expense for maintenance, and furthermore is one which is positive in action, and hence is reliable.

. The rain alarm made in accordance with my invention will be hereinafter more particularly described in conjunction .with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 .is the central cross section illustrating a rain alarm made in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is an inverted plan with a portion of the bottom member broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectionon line 8 3 Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that in carrying out my invention, I employ a casing or box 10 which as illustrated, 1s

rectangular in plan, although as will be understood, the casing may be made in any suitable shape and of metal, suitably prepared paper, or any other material. Within the casing, and attached to and extending from the upper edge thereof, there are inclined walls 11 which extend an appreciable distance within the casing and are provided with a central opening or aperture 12. Disposed oppositely to the inclined wall, the casing is provided with a bottom member 13 hinged at one end as indicated at 14 to the lower edge of the wall 15, andl at its opposite end provided with a latch 16 adapted to engage with a lug or other means on the wall 17 to normally maintain the bottom 18 in position.

I also provide a plate 18 hinged as indicated at 19 to the lower edge of the wall 2O so that when the vbottom 12 of the casing is opened, the plate 18 and associated parts may be swung from their normal positions within the casing to a position outside of the same. The plate 18 is fitted with a bridge member 21. This bridge member 21 in spaced positions is provided with recesses 22 and 28 adapted to receive blade members 24 and 25 each pivotally connected to a rod 26 secured in the bridge so as to be swung to assume positions within the recesses 22 and 23 respectively.

Suitably connected to the inner face of the wall 17 is a bracket 27, and I also employ a lever 28 one end of which is pivotally mounted in the bracket 27 and the other end of which is fitted with a suitable weight 29 movable with the lever between guide-ways 30, suitably attached to the wall 15. As indicated at 31, the central"portion of the le ver 28 is divided so as to span the aperture at the inner ends of the inclined walls, the divided part of the lever being preferably somewhat narrower than the width of the parts of the bridge 21 and the distance between recesses 22 and 28 therein, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

I also employ an audible alarm device 32 which is illustrated, comprising a gong 83 mounted on a screw threaded spindle 34 so `that when turned one direction it may be removed, and in the opposite direction after being brought to place, will wind the main spring 85 of a clock work or other mechanism provided with suitable gears 36 and an escapement 37 which actuates a hammer 38 to strike the gong and cause an audible alarm. In order to maintain the alarm in an inoperative position and to release the same so that it may operate, I employ a link Y 39 attached at one end to an eye 40 secured for this purpose in the underside of the lever 28 and connected at its opposite end to the escapement lever 4l, the link 39 passing through an aperture provided for this purpose in the Wall 17 of the casing.

In the use of this apparatus it is necessary before placing the same in a position to properly set the parts, and for this purpose, I employ tissue paper or a comparatively small piece of any other material which loses its tenacity and may be as readily disrupted by coming or being brought into contact with Water. After-,the casing has been opened by throwing .back the bottom member 13 and permitting the plate 18 to drop, the blades 24 and 25 are removed from their respective recesses and the piece of tissue paperqor other similar material is placed across the top of the bridge and the blades 24 and 25 again caused to assume their normal positions Within the recesses 22 and 23, whereby the paper or other material 42 will be tightly stretched across the upper portion of the bridge member. The casing may be inverted When fixing the paper or other material in position, and if so the Weight 29 will cause the lever to assume the position in which the alarm device is made inoperative. This position is shown in Fig. l. The plate member 18 is then swung into the casing so that `the paper in the bridge contacts with the divided portion of the lever', whereupon the bottom member 13 may be swung to the closed position as shown in Fig. l, and the apparatus turned right side up. The parts ,arev so proportioned, that When the apparatus is prepared for use, they will assume substantially the positions shown in the drawing, and after the gong has been turned to Wind the main spring, the apparatus may be set in position by hooking the loop 43 over a catch provided therefor, on the exterior of the Window, and the apparatus is ready for use.

As will now be apparent, so long as the paper strip 42 or other material employed-isV not disrupted, it will support the lever 28 yand its Weight 29 to maintain the alarm in.

an inoperative position by means of the link 39 locking the escapement. Vhen, however, it begins to rain, the rain drops Will fall into the upper portion of the casing to run down the inclined Walls 11 and through the aperture 12 onto the paper strip 42 immediately beneath the same. As soon as the paper strip absorbs sufficient moisture to be readily disrupted, it is broken by the lever 28 which then drops by virtue of the Weight 29 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dot- `tedlines therein, and in so doing the link 39 38 causing the same to strike the gong to make an audible alarm.

I claim as my invention: p

l. A rain alarm comprising a casing having inclined Walls extending into the same from the edges thereof, a bridge member having spaced parallel sides and recesses at the outer ends thereof, blade members pivoted to the bridge member and adapted to clamp and stretch a piece of suitable material across the upper' ends of the bridge member. a lever normally supported by the material stretched across the bridge member, and means operated by the Vlever when permitted to drop by the `disruption of the material held in the bridge member for operating a signal to give an alarm.

2. A rain alarm comprising a casing, inclined Walls extending from the upper top edges of the casing into the same and teri minating approximately centrally of the casing at Which point'in the said vinclined Walls there is an opening, a bridge member having spaced parallel sides and recesses at the outer ends thereof, blade members pivoted to the :bridge member and adapted to clamp and stretch a piece of suitable material across the upper ends, of the bridge member, a lever normally supported by the material stretched across the bridge member, and means operated by the lever When .permitted to drop by the disruption of the material held in the Vbridge member for operating a signal to give an alarm.

3. Arain alarm comprising a casing, in-

clined Walls extendingfrom the upper top edges 0f the casing into the same and terminatingpapproximately centrally Vof the casing at which point 'in the said 'inclined Walls there is an opening, a 'bridge member hava lever pivoted at one end in one side of the 'casing `and `adapted to be normally .supported by the material held 'in the said bridge, a countervveight Afixed at the opposite end of the lever, an alarm, and means voperated by the lever upon 'being ,released for actuating the alarm to give a signal.

4. A rain alarm comprising a casing, inclined Walls extending from the upper top edges of the casing into the same and terminating approximately centrally of the casing at Which point in the said inclined Walls there is an opening, a plate pivoted at one end to one side of the casing, a `bridge comprising parallel sides fixed in said plate and Y `clamp and stretch a suitable material across the said bridge members, a lever pivotally mounted at one end on one side of the casing and adapted normally to be supported by the material stretched across the bridge members, a Weight Xed to the other end of the said lever, an alarm, and means for op erating said alarm from said lever when the latter is released from its initial position and permitted to drop.

5. A rain alarm comprising a casing inolined Walls extending from the upper top edges of the casing into the same and terminating approximately centrally of the oasing at which point in the said inclined Walls there is an opening, a plate pivoted at one end to one side of the easing, a bridge comprising parallel sides fixed in said plate and provided at their outer ends With recesses,

blades adapted to engage said recesses to clamp and stretch a suitable material across the said bridge members, a lever pivotally mounted at one end on one side of the casing and adapted normally to be supported by the material stretched across the bridge members, a mechanical alarm comprising an escapement, gears, and a spring for driving the same, and a link connected at one end to the weighted lever and at its opposite end to the said escapement so that When the lever is maintained in its normal position the alarm is inoperative and When permitted to drop the alarm is made operative through the lever actuating the said link.

Signed by me this 15th day of November, 1916.

CHARLES FIRMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ai. Patents, Washington, D. C. 

